Variable input data recorder

ABSTRACT

A variable input data recorder is disclosed comprising a data input means and a data recorder means. The data input means can be programmed by actuating keys or levers while the data input means is located within or at a remote location from the data recorder means. When the data input means is inserted into the data recorder means, the action of a printing head effects movement of printing characters in accordance with the preactuated keys or levers to transfer the programmed information into the recorder to be recorded on a document. The invention is compatible for use with pushbutton keys or conventional slide levers operating at a local or remote location from the recorder.

[111 3,824,922 [451 July 23,1974

vUnited States Patent Van Acker w l PATENTEnJuLesmn SHEET 1 0F 2 This isa continuation of Ser. No. 191,674 filed Oct. 22, 1971, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION v This invention relates to data recordingmachines and more'particularly yto data recording means recording fixedand variable information on the same form.

The use of credit cards in consumer sales is still on the increase andis rapidly becoming the most common type of business transaction. Suchuse requires speedy and accurate recording of fixed data from a creditcard and variable data from the transaction such as the purchase priceand date. The prior art has known many types of variable input datarecorders to record fixed and variable data upon a document. Most ofthese data recorders used slide levers to serve as an input for variabledata. The slide levers rotate printing wheels having character thereon,to select a given character in accordance with the position of the slidelever. A credit card or a source of fixed data would then be placed upona printing surface and a document would overlie both the variable datainformation on the printing wheels and the fixed data information orithe' credit card. The document would be printed containing both thevariable and fixed data.

This type of recorder performed reasonably well but did not makeefficient use'of the'data recorder machine. ln periods of. high sales,congestion .woulddevelop due to the fact that the variable data wouldhave to be set on the manual levers of the data recorder machine.Subsequent art solved` this problem in part by mounting the slide leverson a data board which was removable from the data recorder. This allowedthe vari'- able data to be preset at a remote location from the datarecorder and to be inserted into the data recorder along with the creditcard and the document to be recorded. e

This type of arrangement solved the problem of congestion but derivedthe wheel drive power solely from the manual insertion of the data boardinto position and had no provision. to use keys instead of slide levers.

v The use of keys is desired for several reasons. Keys have a morefavorable appearance and are faster and more convenient to set. Inaddition, keys are easier to read and to reset.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to produce a variable inputdata recorder which is capable of using either keys or slide levers. y y

Another object of this invention is to produce a variable input datarecorder which is easy to operate.

Another object of this invention is to produce a vari- SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION This invention is embodied in the steps of providing a bedupon which printing members may be assembled to lie in a printing levelprinting plane. Mounting a series of adjustable printing elements on thebed, each of which is movable to a selected printing position on thebed. Preferably these are a plurality of print wheels each having aseries of indicia about the periphery thereof. There is a means urgingeach printing member to move through a series of positions to an extremeposition. When wheels are used, they are urged to rotate completelythrough a 360 rotation. When wheels are used they are operativelyconnected to a rack with an extension arm which serves as an extensionmeans which can be blocked by the movement of indicia keys on akeyboard. The keys act as removable abutments extended into the path ofthe extension means to bring the adjustable printing elements to a stopintermediate their possible'extent of travel. In this way, the printingmember wheels may be cocked, keys established to values, and the wheelsreleased to cause the extension l means to strike the key blocks andstop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 illustrates a variable inputdata recorder in which the data input means and the data recorder meansare incorporated into a single system;

FIG. 2 is the preferred embodiment which illustrates the operation ofthe disclosed invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of FIG. 2 illustrating theoperation of the input keys;

FIG. 4 illustrates` a variable input data recorder wherein the datainput means is removable from the data recordermeans; y FIG. 5 is a topplan view of the FIG. 4 structure, with the platen carriage removed toillustrateva separable data keyboard and FIG. 6 is a section taken alongline 6-6 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT having a separate key for theintegers from one to nine.

able input data recorder which can be preset at a re- Another object ofthis invention is to produce a variable input data recorder which isinexpensive.

The keys 16 are preselectable to select a given character forreproduction by moving a given key from an unactivated normal positionto an activated depressed position. Although plural key means are usedas stop means within the embodiments of this invention, the invention iscompatible for use with single keys slidable in key slots.

The data recorder means 11 includes character wheels 13 which havecharacters corresponding to the characters on the stop means. The datarecorder also includes racks 26 and transforming means 40 shown in FIG.2, which interconnect the character wheels 13 and the keys 16. A rollerplaten 15 is able to cause a printout of the character wheels 13.

The general operation of the structure shown in FIG. 1 can be explainedas follows. An embossed data source card is placed within the sectionshown as 21. Section 22 contains fixed information such as the naine ofthe store, location and department. A document is placed upon a topprinting surface and held by guides 2-3 to covei the card position 21,the fixed data position 22 and an opening 14 for the character wheels13. Variableinformation of the amount of sale is entered into the datainput means 10. The keys can be of a size large enough to be depressedby a finger or can be designed to bev depressed by an end of a pencil.In the event that an error is made by the operator in entering thevariable information, a reset means 19 is available to reset the keys16. After the variable input data is preset into the data input means10, the platen is moved across the surface of the document resulting ina permanent record of the information assembled in plates and wheels.Upon return of thel platen 15 to a first position as shown, the keyswill be reset. The datav input means shown in FIG. 1 has five key pathsand five character wheels. The key paths are arranged in a row and areable to record amounts up to 999.99 dollars.

The preferred embodiment FIG. 2 shows a variable 'i input data recordersimilar to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 but simplified by illustratingonly one character wheel 13 to'aidv in the explanation of the operationof lthe invention. The data input means 10 includes keys 16 labeled bylcharacters 1 to 9. The keys 16 are arranged in a key path and arepreselectable to select a given character for reproduction. FIG. 2 showskey bearing the value 1 to be preselected. Key l is in a depressed oractuated positionwhereas key bearing values 2-9 are in an unactuated ornomal position. The data recordermeans 11 includes character wheel 13shown as a printing wheel with characters thereon. The data recordermeans l1 also includes racks 26 and gears 27 transforming the movementof the racks 26 along a first path into movement of the character means13 to select a given character. As the racks 26 move along the firstpath, the character wheels 13 rotate to select the character to beprinted. The dashed printed by the platen. However, the phantom position26A shows the selector rack 26 engaged with the key 1. The selector rack26 is not engaged with any of the keys 2-9 since these keys are in theunactuated position. If the key 5 in FIG. 2 were depressed into theactuated position, and the restraining member 42 allowed to recede, thenthe rack 26 would be urged along the first path into engagement with theactuated key 5 and the corresponding character 5 would appear at opening14 to be printed. Platen 15 is movable from'the first position as shown,to the second position in a print stroke, and then in a return movementto the starting position. The first and second positions are on oppositesides of the character means 13. A pivotable arm member 46 coactsbetween the rack 26 and the platen 15 to resist movement of the rack 26when the platen l5 is in the first position and allows controlledmovement of the racks 26 by the spring 41 when the platen 15 is movedfrom the first position. The arm 46 pivots about an axis 47 and contactsthe platen 15 and the rack 26 at shoulders 43 and 44, respectively, whenthe platen 15 isin the first position. The rack 26 is restrained frommoving by the friction and the inertiaof the platen 15. A1-

these movements can be independent of one another.

When an operator moves the platen 15 from the first position toward thecharacter wheels 13, the restraining member 42 allows the rack 26 tomove and engage with the actuated key 1. The position of the arm 46 andthe restraining member 42 are shown by the phantom positions 46A and 42Arespectively, after the platen 15 line 14 indicates the opening in a bedof the data re- The platen 15 includes a frame 33 and a printing rollplaten 34.Theplaten 15 and the character wheels 13 are able tomoverelative to each other and in this embodiment the platen l`5 is ableto move from the first position as shown to a second position which ison the opposite side of the character wheels 13.

The preferred embodiment FIG. 2 illustrates a spring 41 which urges theracks 26 along one direction of the first path and a restraining member42 which restrains the movement ofthe rack 26.

For example, when an operator moves a key bearing value 1 into theactuated position as shown in FIG. 2, there is no change in thecharacter wheel13. When the restraining member 42 is moved away from ashoulder 44 on rack 26, the rack is allowed to move by action of theurging means 41 resulting in the rotation of the character wheel 13. Theselector rack 26 moves along the first path until engagement with theactuated key. The movement of the rack 26 rotates the character wheel 13 such that when the rack 26 engages with a given actuated key, thecorresponding character will appear onthe character wheel 13 at opening14 to be has been moved to the second position. The spring 4l rotatesthe arm 46 about axis 47 intothe position 46A v by the study of FIG. 3.The keys 16 are stable in either v the actuated or unactuated position.A detent member means 50 is located below the data input board 37. Eachkey 16 has a detent projection means v51 on the lower portion of thekey. ln addition, each key has a spring 52 which urges the key means 16to be stable in the unactuated position. A detent member 50 and the datainput board 37 are arranged to establish the detent member 50 to engagewith the detent projection means 51 when a key is moved into theactuated position as shown by key 1. This movement of the key istransverse to the first path.

The detent member 50 has elongated holes to receive the base of the key16. Upon depressing a key, the detent projection means 51 is engagedwith the detent member 50. The diagram also shows the reset means 19which is able to move the detent member 50 to the right in FIG. 3,relative to the data input board 37 to disengage the detent projectionmeans 51 from the detent member 50. FIG. 3 shows key 1 in the actuatedposition in accordance with FIG. 2. FIG. 3 also shows an adjacent keypath or row of keys which are not shown in FIG. 2. In the second row ofkeys, none of the keys are in the actuated position and the respectiveadjacent the datainput board 37 after the operator has reset the keys bythe reset means 19.

FIG. 2 shows a means to automatically reset the keyboard upon completionof the printing process. An automatic reset means 59 acts together withthe reset means I9` and the platen 15 by way of the arm 46 to disengagethe detent means 50, 51 in accordance with the movement of the platenl5. When the platen is moved from the first position across thecharacter wheels 13, the rack 26 moves until it engages with thepre-selected key 1. At this point the automatic reset means 59 is in thephantom position 59A. Upon return of the platen 15, the rack 26 isreturned to its original position and in the last increment of movementof the platen 15 the automatic reset means 59 engages with the resetmeans 19 to move the detent member means 50 relative to the data inputboard 37 to disengage the detent means. After disengaging the detentmeans, the keys 16 are returned to the unactuated position by the keyspring 52.l The spring 58 returns the detent member into the engageableposition to'allow the detent means to be engageable when a key isreactuated. v

The invention also includes means establishing the data input means 10as a separable field board cooperating with the data recorder means l1.The means establishing cooperation is shown as a forward and a rearlateral ridge 36 shown in FIGS. 4 and 6 to position the key meansarranged in the key path or a second path to be substantially adjacenttothe first path to have the racks 2.6 engageable only with a key means inthe actuated position. Cooperating groove 38 allows the field board 10to drop down upon the machine bed for the purposes of locking the lfieldboard 10 onto the machine bed and to permit the wheels 13 to project upthrough opening 14. This allows the data input means 10 to bepre-selected at a remote location from the data recorder means 11 to beheld in a position in which the data input means 10 and the datarecorder means 11 can satisfactorily cooperate with one another.

of another operator to cooperate with the data recorder means.

The invention as described is capable of being used with keys as shownin these embodiments and with the conventional slide levers of the priorart. In addition, the invention allows the operation of the data inputmeans l0 within the data recorder or as a separable FIGS. 4-6 show avariable input data recorder in which the data input means l0 isseparable from the data recorder means 11. Cooperation of the data inputmeans 10`with the datarecorder means 11 is accomplished by action of theridges 36 acting together with the grooves 38. In this embodiment, thekey means 16, credit card holder 2l, permanent information 22 and thedocument are located on data input means 10. An opening 14 allowsprinting of the variable data on the document by the character wheels 13when the data input means 10 is inserted within the data recorder means11. For example, at the time of the sale, the variable information canbe preset or programmed into the data input means 10 and inserteddirectly into the data recorder means l1 with the credit card, thepermanent information and the document. Movement of the platen 15activates the racks 26 as explained in FIG. 2 to transfer the variabledata from the data input means 10 into the data recorder means 11 torecord the document with the necessary information.

The character wheels 13 are properly positioned prior to the time theplaten l5 passes over the character wheels 13 to produce thereproduction. Upon return 0f the platen 15 the data input means 10 isreset and can be removed to allow another `data input means unitre-selectable at remote locations from the recorder. The keys offer afaster set-up time in addition to being more convenient and easier toread. Finally, the keys offer a fully automatic variable input datarecorder at a reasonable cost.

What is claimed is:

1. A variableinput data recorder, comprising:

1. a printing machine having a bed, a data board carried by said bedupon which printing members may be assembled to lie in a printing levelplane;

a roller platen movable from a home position across said bed to aterminal position and return in a printing cycle;

an opening in said bed, a plurality of printing wheels,

` each; wheel having a series of printing impression characters aroundthe periphery thereof, said wheels rotatably mounted on a supportpositioned below said bed a distance to place the characters at saidprinting level plane;

a pinion dirvingly connected to each wheel;

a rack for each wheel, an extension arm connected thereto, said rackmovable radially to the pinion to drive the pinion and wheel to adesired rotary position upon movement of the extension arm;

said extension arms mounted to extend in a common plane with meansurging each rack and its extension arm independently in a firstdirection, each in a path, the several paths being side by side in saidplane, whereby each wheel is urged to rotate as the extension arm movesin said plane;

a row of keys of said data board for each said rack, the row alignedwith the path of the related rack, each key having a stop memberextension connected thereto, each said key having a first positionwherein the stop member is extended into the path and blocks extensionofthe rack extension arm beyondy the key, and a second position out ofthe path, whereby the extension arm will be arrested as it moves in thefirst direction by contact with the first stop in said row that is movedto said first position;

the stop members of each row each occupying a predetermined positionsuch that in stopping the associated arm, the connected rack will setthe associated printing wheel at an angular position with a s selectedone of its printing impression characters lying in the printing plane;

a restraining means movable adjacent said plane for intercepting saidextension arms said restraining means being released by movement of saidplaten from said home position to be driven by the extension arms insaid first direction, said restraining means being movable in responseto movement of the platen to said home portion for moving all of saidextension arms in a second direction away from said stop members,whereby the selection of stop members may taken place in the absence ofthe arms, and movement of said restraining means in said first directionallows said arms to move toward said stop members until each arm isarrested by a selected stop member.

data keyboard is removably attachable to said bed for setting upprinting members and keys while separated from the machine.

1. A variable input data recorder, comprising:
 1. a printing machinehaving a bed, a data board carried by said bed upon which printingmembers may be assembled to lie in a printing level plane; a rollerplaten movable from a home position across said bed to a terminalposition and return in a printing cycle; an opening in said bed, aplurality of printing wheels, each wheel having a series of printingimpression characters around the periphery thereof, said wheelsrotatably mounted on a support positioned below said bed a distance toplace the characters at said printing level plane; a pinion dirvinglyconnected to each wheel; a rack for each wheel, an extension armconnected thereto, said rack movable radially to the pinion to drive thepinion and wheel to a desired rotary position upon movement of theextension arm; said extension arms mounted to extend in a common planewith means urging each rack and its extension arm independently in afirst direction, each in a path, the several paths being side by side insaid plane, whereby each wheel is urged to rotate as the extension armmoves iN said plane; a row of keys of said data board for each saidrack, the row aligned with the path of the related rack, each key havinga stop member extension connected thereto, each said key having a firstposition wherein the stop member is extended into the path and blocksextension of the rack extension arm beyond the key, and a secondposition out of the path, whereby the extension arm will be arrested asit moves in the first direction by contact with the first stop in saidrow that is moved to said first position; the stop members of each roweach occupying a predetermined position such that in stopping theassociated arm, the connected rack will set the associated printingwheel at an angular position with a selected one of its printingimpression characters lying in the printing plane; a restraining meansmovable adjacent said plane for intercepting said extension arms saidrestraining means being released by movement of said platen from saidhome position to be driven by the extension arms in said firstdirection, said restraining means being movable in response to movementof the platen to said home portion for moving all of said extension armsin a second direction away from said stop members, whereby the selectionof stop members may taken place in the absence of the arms, and movementof said restraining means in said first direction allows said arms tomove toward said stop members until each arm is arrested by a selectedstop member.
 2. A data recorder as defined in claim 1, wherein the stopmembers in each row are topped by a key-top for finger actuation fromsaid second to said first stop position.
 3. A data recorder as definedin claim 1, wherein the data keyboard is removably attachable to saidbed for setting up printing members and keys while separated from themachine.